LOUISE BOURGEOIS: COMPLETE BOOKS & PRINTS

Descriptive Title:

English translation: "Collection of Secrets of Louyse Bourgeois"

Themes:

Words

Techniques:

Drypoint

Description:

Drypoint, with selective wiping

Support:

Smooth, wove paper

Dimensions:

plate: 6 x 3 7/8" (15.2 x 9.9 cm); sheet: 7 3/8 x 4 15/16" (18.8 x 12.5 cm)

Signature:

"Louise Bourgeois" lower middle margin, pencil.

Publisher:

Salon Verlag, Cologne

Printer:

Harlan & Weaver, New York

Edition:

40; plus 15 A.P., 5 H.C., 2 P.P.

Impression:

"AP 5/15" left lower margin, pencil, unknown hand.

Edition Information:

There are 3 known variant impressions of the only state, outside the edition.

The third known impression of the only state, outside the edition, is an additional variant printed in blue ink. An image of that impression is not available.

Background:

This artist's book was issued as part of Salon Verlag's series "Ex Libris." Since 2002, the publisher Gerhard Theewen has invited artists to reprint a book that has had an impact on his or her own work. Each of these reprints, published in a trade edition of 300, is furnished by the artist with a newly designed cover and a signed ex libris, or bookplate. The deluxe edition, as seen here, comes with an additional signed work by the artist and special housing.

For her contribution, Bourgeois reprinted the 1635 volume "Recueil des Secrets de Louyse Bourgeois," written by a 17th century French midwife who happened to share the artist's name. The midwife Bourgeois was the midwife to Maria of Medici, Queen of France, and was among the first women of her time to write about her profession.

Bourgeois's newly designed cover and bookplate are lithographic reproductions of the artist's 2004 project "The Reticent Child," a triptych of drypoints with unique hand additions across the edition. The bookplate is a reproduction of the left panel from impression no. 8/8, the front cover is a reproduction of the center panel from impression no. 7/8, and the back cover is a reproduction of the right panel from impression no. 7/8.

Artist’s Remarks:

"This book was a gift to me from [the publisher] Peter Blum. It was originally published in Paris in 1635 and is about a midwife who has my name. I am interested in the Mother and Child relationship and how it relates to emotions later in life." (Statement to Salon Verlag about her contribution to the "Ex Libris" series.)

Curatorial Remarks:

Several merchandise items were made with this composition printed in red: a baby onesie, an adult T-shirt, an adult tank top, a linen tea towel, and a catch all tray.

MoMA Credit Line:

Gift of the artist

MoMA Accession Number:

327.2009.4

This Work in Other Collections:

Graphische Sammlung ETH Zürich, Switzerland
Tate Modern, London

© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY